Hobart, Australia – Top-seeded Belgian Yanina Wickmayer and German qualifier Mona Barthel were semifinal winners Friday at the $220,000 Moorilla Hobart International tennis event.
Barthel upended defending champion Jarmila Gajdosova in the quarterfinals, then defeated fourth-seeded Angelique Kerber by a 6-0, 7-6 (7-6) score. Barthel converted 4-of-7 break point chances in the victory against her compatriot.
Wickmayer pulled out a first-set tiebreaker on her way to a 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 win against sixth-seeded Israeli Shahar Peer. The Belgian had 12 break-point chances and converted five of them.
Wickmayer has won her only previous meeting with Barthel, who has never before appeared in a WTA final. Wickmayer is 3-3 all-time in finals, and hasn't won a tourney since claiming the Auckland crown in January 2010.
The winner of this final Australian Open tuneup will earn $37,000.
